The X-men run missions and work together with the NYPD, striving to maintain a peaceful balance between humans and mutants. When it comes to a fight, they won't back down from protecting those who need their help.
Haven presents itself as a humanitarian organization for activists, leaders, and high society, yet mutants are the secret leaders working to protect and serve their kind. Behind the scenes they bring their goals into reality.
From the time when mutants became known to the world, SUPER was founded as a black-ops division of the CIA in an attempt to classify, observe, and learn more about this new and rising threat.
The Syndicate works to help bring mutantkind to the forefront of the world. They work from the shadows, a beacon of hope for mutants, but a bane to mankind. With their guiding hand, humanity will finally find extinction.
Since the existence of mutants was first revealed in the nineties, the world has become a changed place. Whether they're genetic misfits or the next stage in humanity's evolution, there's no denying their growing numbers, especially in hubs like New York City. The NYPD has a division devoted to mutant related crimes. Super-powered vigilantes help to maintain the peace. Those who style themselves as Homo Superior work to tear society apart for rebuilding in their own image.
MRO is an intermediate to advanced writing level original character, original plot X-Men RPG. We've been open and active since October of 2005. You can play as a mutant, human, or Adapted— one of the rare humans who nullify mutant powers by their very existence. Goodies, baddies, and neutrals are all welcome.
Short Term Plots:Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
The Fountain of Youth
A chemical serum has been released that's shaving a few years off of the population. In some cases, found to be temporary, and in others...?
MRO MOVES WITH CURRENT TIME: What month and year it is now in real life, it's the same for MRO, too.
Fuegogrande: "Fuegogrande" player of The Ranger, Ion, Rhia, and Null
Neopolitan: "Aly" player of Rebecca Grey, Stephanie Graves, Marisol Cervantes, Vanessa Bookman, Chrysanthemum Van Hart, Sabine Sang, Eupraxia
Ongoing Plots
Magic and Mystics
After the events of the 2020 Harvest Moon and the following Winter Solstice, magic has started manifesting in the MROvere! With the efforts of the Welldrinker Cult, people are being converted into Mystics, a species of people genetically disposed to be great conduits for magical energy.
The Pharoah Dynasty
An ancient sorceress is on a quest to bring her long-lost warrior-king to the modern era in a bid for global domination. Can the heroes of the modern world stop her before all is lost?
Are They Coming for You?
There have been whispers on the streets lately of a boogeyman... mutant and humans, young and old, all have been targets of trafficking.
Adapteds
What if the human race began to adapt to the mutant threat? What if the human race changed ever so subtly... without the x-gene.
Atlanteans
The lost city of Atlantis has been found! Refugees from this undersea mutant dystopia have started to filter in to New York as citizens and businessfolk. You may make one as a player character of run into one on the street.
Got a plot in mind?
MRO plots are player-created the Mods facilitate and organize the big ones, but we get the ideas from you. Do you have a plot in mind, and want to know whether it needs Mod approval? Check out our plot guidelines.
Posted by Iris/Rayne on Jan 11, 2008 10:19:03 GMT -6
Mutant God
1,558
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:33:20 GMT -6
(OOC: Sorry for the length.)
As Hunter retreated to the kitchen, Iris retreated to her room. She was careful not to slam the door, even though Ebony was already hiding under the bed. She leaned against the door and slid down, until she was sitting on the floor. There were so many emotions flooding her body at that moment, that they suddenly seemed to cancel each other out, leaving her feeling detached, and numb. It was the oddest sensation. Her eyes were blurred, but she didn’t feel any tears. Reaching up she touched her cheek. It was dry. So she wasn’t crying. Her back was burning, as if the gems embedded there were trying to activate. But all six were on fire, not just one. Almost as if.... they were all active. She looked at her palm. Nothing. They continued to burn, and pulse, but none of them surged ahead with a complete take over.
<“What’s wrong with me?”>
She wasn’t sure how long she simply sat there; there was no clock in the room. Eventually Ebony emerged from beneath the bed, and cautiously made her way to her mom. She could smell the stress eminating from her, but there didn’t seem to be any violence associated with it, nor any fear. She padded up, and into Iris’s lap, placing her paws on her shoulders. With a soft ‘murr’, she rubbed her head underneath her mom’s chin. Mechanically Iris reached up and began stroking the feline’s multi-brown fur, still staring straight ahead. After a few moments, she reached down to her waist and retrieved her phone. Without looking, she dialed a number, then hit the speaker button. It rang once before the line clicked open.
”Iris? Is that you, sweetie?”
“Of course its her, Carol. Who else calls on that line?”
“It’s a greeting, Max. For Pete’s sake, don’t get yer knickers in a knot Besides she only calls this phone when something’s wrong. What’s wrong honey?”
”Nothing’s wrong Tia.” Even to her own ears the words sounded hollow and lifeless.
”Now that’s a load, if I ever heard one.” Max’s voice came closer, as he moved closer to the phone. ”Girl, we’ve known you too long to not know when something’s wrong, and we haven’t heard from you in days. Come on, spill it.”
“Honey? You haven’t been caught, have you?” There was a slight note of panic in her guardians’ voices.
”No, I haven’t been caught. I’m fine. I’m.... I’m.... ..... ..... No, I’m not fine. I.... I....”
All at once her back ceased hurting. The pain drained away, and all of the emotion drained back in to take it’s place. The floodgates opened, and she began weeping freely. Ebony moved to her shoulder, draping around her neck like a warm, silky, purring scarf.
On the other end of the phoneline, Max and Carol exchanged fearful looks. With all of the Registration craziness, they had become much more active in local area. They were not known to be Pro-mutant, but they had already done their share of relocating mutants ‘under the radar’, as it were, away from the Registration Law and its enforcers. The thought that their own little girl might be in trouble, where they couldn’t help her, sent fear and pain through their hearts.
It took a long time, but eventually through the sobbing and sniffling, Iris managed to tell them everything; every single thing that had happened from the time she arrived in New York, to being kidnapped, going haywire at the Mansion, being kidnapped again, finding out about Hunter and her past, running into the Stalker, what she was involved in now. Everything. Once it all was out in the open, she slowly began to calm down.
”Oh, child.....” Max looked at his sister; she was crying too, but silently. ‘What can we do?’ he mouthed to her. Carol bit her lip, then motioned for him to hand her the phone.
”Iris? Honey, are you still there?” She didn’t hear a reply, but the whimpering was still audible. ”Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry we didn’t prepare you for this-“
”It’s not your fault,” Iris cut her off with a choking-hiss. ”It his He turned me into this.... this.... monster ” There was no doubt that ‘he’ meant Hunter. ”I’ll never be normal I’ll never have a normal life. I can’t even go out in public now I can’t have friends, or I’ll-I’ll hurt them, or worse I c-can’t come home, or I’ll put you in danger Sara hates mutants Th-the Ranch will be ruined, and she’ll call the Stalkers, and-and-and those Humanity people, and-and-“
”Rayne Belamount, you bite your tongue this instant ”
Iris gulped and cringed. Her guardians very rarely yelled at her, and hadn’t since she was fifteen. And then it was only one of them. The combination of both raised voices was enough to cut her raving short.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, as both Max and Carol composed themselves. Finally Max spoke up.
”Rayne, are you sure this Hunter person is telling the truth?”
”No.” Her voice suddenly sounded very small and child-like.
”Do you believe him?”
The lack of a reply said more than anything. But she remembered what her eyes looked like when she first activated the clear gem, like the eyes in her nightmare. A nightmare she hadn’t had since she met him.
”Rayne, sweetie. You’re not a creature, or a monster. You’re a young woman-“
”A mutant woman.” Iris cut Carol off.
”So what? Just because the rest of the world are narrow-minded fools doesn’t make you the monster here Why? Are you prejudiced?”
Iris blinked and frowned. That question took her aback. ”Of course not. Why would-“
”Then what’s the problem? So, you’re a mutant. So what? That didn’t stop Max and I from raising you the best we know how. We’d have done the same thing if you were dark-skinned or green-skinned.”
”Green-skinned?”
”Oh, you know what I mean. Hush.”
“Oh, hush yerself, Carol. She knows what you meant.”
A slight smile tugged at Iris’s mouth. At least they weren’t truly mad at her. But she still felt.... confused.
”Rayne... Iris,” Max switched names again, ”the point is, you can only blame Hunter so far. If he’s telling the truth, then yes it is his fault you’re a mutant. But you can’t blame him for who you are. You are the one who decides who or what you’re going to be. Yes, you’re a mutant. You’ll always be a mutant. You’ve been dealt a rough hand with the deck stacked against you. But how you play your cards is what determines how the game turns out.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Max. You and your card games.”
“What? It’s a good illustration Can you do better?”
“Of course I can. It’s more like Iron Chef. You have to cook with the ingredients you’re given, but it’s the spices that make or break the dish.”
“That’s not better, that’s silly ”
“No more that your Rummy hand schpeal.”
“Now just hold on, a minute.”
As the two continued bickering, a smile finally cracked Iris’ face. It felt good to hear that nothing had changed, at least as far as her family was concerned. The still loved her, no matter what she had become.
Still, what had she become? Was she becoming prejudiced? She hated being a mutant. Is this what African-American or other brown-skinned people felt like when they walked into a room of Caucasians? Is this what Jewish people felt like in a room of Catholics or Muslims? Or how a person missing arms or legs felt like in a room of healthy people? Like they weren’t given a chance to show that they’re just people, just like everyone else? She frowned. She didn’t like Hunter. That much was clear. She didn’t trust him, and if her memories were true, she felt betrayed by him, on several levels. But the violence she felt toward him.... Was she simply taking her frustration with herself and the rest of the world out on those around her? On him?
Calley, not everyone in this world approves of violence.[/I]
That’s what she had told the hyperactive teenager. Was she turning into a hypocrite?
”Iris? Honey, are you still there?”
She blinked, coming back to herself. ”Um, yeah. Yeah, still here. I- um.... yeah. St-still here.”
”Do you want us to come there and help you out?”
”No, no. It’s not safe enough yet. I think.... I think, I’ll be okay now. I-I think I just needed to vent a bit.”
”You women and yer venting.”
“Oh, hush up ya ol’ fool. It’s either that knock yer knees into next Tuesday.”
“Hrmpf.”
A small, shaky chuckle left Iris’s throat. Oddly enough, she did feel much better, though she suddenly had a lot of deep thinking to do.
”I think I need some sleep, though.” She felt like a cranky kid who needed a nap after a temper tantrum. Which is basically what she had. Who said grown-ups had to be so.... well, ‘grown-up’?
Both Max and Carol laughed on the other end of the line. ”You do that, sweetie. You do that. And give us a call when you wake up.”
“Yeah, I want to talk to this Hunter fellow. Straighten a few things out.”
Iris made a face. ”Um, maybe later Tio.” She paused, then added quietly, ”Thank you.”
”You know you can call anytime. And we’re ready for you to come home, whenever you’re ready.”
”I know. Thank you. I love you.”
”Love you, too, sweetie,” they both chorused, the Carol added, ”and you be careful. We want you back breathing.” Then the line fell quiet.
For a few moments she stayed where she was on the floor. Then she stood, very careful not to spill Ebony, and moved over to the bed. The little siamese shifted her position as Iris lay down. Her mind was still cluttered, and emotions still jumbled. But the overwhelming stress has ebbed from a raging tsunami to a restless ocean for the moment. Eventually the rumbling purr lulled the blonde to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nearly three hours passed before she finally emerged from her room. Her eyes were red, and just a bit puffy. But she was also noticeably calmer when she rejoined the others.
”Sorry, I guess I was a bit more tired than I thought. Did I, um, miss lunch?”[/color]
(OOC: Yay 300 posts! Also, Hunter, I took a few liberties with Nigel Banks, if I have to change anything let me know.)
Katrina and Nigel continued their get-to-know-your-new-family-member-without-others-realizing-you-don’t-know-each-other game all the way to the grocery store and back. Nigel knew of a little family owned corner grocery store that was only about two blocks from the apartment, so they walked there. It was still fall, but it was a little nippy, indicating that winter was indeed on its way. They couldn’t very well continue their discussion on favorite foods that they had in the car, so on the way there Katrina asked Nigel to tell her stories from when he was a child. Nigel obliged and Katrina learned some things about her pretend father that Hunter probably didn’t even know.
Did he know for instance that Nigel was once the president of the anime club at his high school and he is currently a level 72 mage in D&D? Nigel was very proud to tell her that he was the highest level D&D player of all the guards at Mondragon Labs (except he referred to the as “the guys from daddy’s work”). He explained that “the boss” didn’t like “the guys” playing around with such things “at work”, so that was one of the reason they had to vacate the break room whenever “the boss” came around; they were afraid he would tear up their character sheets, (although Nigel had his memorized, he wouldn’t want anyone to accuse him of cheating if he had to recreate it). Sometime, he admitted, he and “the guys” scheduled “training sessions” at “the gym” to do live action role playing, but he hoped “the boss” would never find out about that either.
In the dairy aisle, Nigel pulled her aside and told her seriously, “Don’t tell my brother about this, okay? He wouldn’t approve of D&D or of me slacking off at work, so let’s just not mention it.” Katrina nodded seriously; she would keep this secret for sure.
After buying all the possible ingredients they could think of for omelets (including Tabasco sauce and peanut butter and bananas for something Nigel called a “monkey omelet”) they made their way back to the apartment. Nigel explained some of the finer points of the rules of D&D, which Katrina had heard about, but never played, but changed the subject abruptly when they got to the building. “And that is the history of this part of New York City” he finished as he pushed open the door to the apartment.
(OOC: I like the added dimension to Nigel, makes him more human)
IC: Hunter returned to the living room once Paragon had vacated it. Turning on the television and keeping the volume low so as not to disturb her he began skipping through the channels. His acute hearing could make out that she was talking to someone, most likely a phone call.
He turned up the volume so he could no longer make out what was being said, he would give Paragon her privacy. Once he could no longer hear voices he lowered the volume again. And so Hunter passed the time in front of the television waiting for either Paragon to emerge or Katrina and Nigel to return.
Katrina and Nigel were first. Hunter turned off the television and went to greet them as they returned. “So,” he said with a smile,” what do we have then?” He had just shut the door behind them when Paragon emerged enquiring after food. “You’re just in time,” he answered, “they just got back with lunch.”
"Oreos and whipped cream? No. Those didn't count as omelet ingredients. If you want some though, the store isn't very far away. It's within walking distance. We did get some peanut butter and bananas for monkey omelets. Those were his idea." Katrina pointed to Nigel. "And Tabasco sauce. That was my idea. They don't go together though." Heaven forbid someone try a monkey omelet, which was weird enough on its own, with Tabasco sauce on it.
"So, who knows how to make omelets? I've never done it before."
“Well,” said Hunter grabbing a saucepan and setting it upon the cooker, “I’m a reasonable cook, and omelettes are well within my ability. Just tell me what you want in it and I’ll cook it for you.” As he spoke he also pulled out a chopping board, knife and various other cooking implements.
“At some point we need to do a full shop,” he said to Paragon as he took the ingredients from Nigel, “so next time Milo and Jenny are round we don’t have to send them out to get the food. Right, who’s first?”
Posted by Iris/Rayne on Jan 13, 2008 22:21:50 GMT -6
Mutant God
1,558
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:33:20 GMT -6
"Oreos and whipped cream? No. Those didn't count as omelet ingredients. If you want some though, the store isn't very far away. It's within walking distance. We did get some peanut butter and bananas for monkey omelets. Those were his idea."
"Monkey omelets??" Disbelief crossed Iris's face.
Katrina pointed to Nigel. "And Tabasco sauce. That was my idea. They don't go together though. So, who knows how to make omelets? I've never done it before."
Iris held up her hands, and backed away slightly. She was not going near that stove.
“Well, I’m a reasonable cook, and omelettes are well within my ability. Just tell me what you want in it and I’ll cook it for you.” Hunter looked at her. "At some point we need to do a full shop, so next time Milo and Jenny are round we don’t have to send them out to get the food. Right, who’s first?”
She glanced away, but nodded. "I can do that later today." She paused, then added. "Maybe after you show me those flowers again."
Before he could reply, she reached over and took the cutting board and knife, and began chopping mushrooms. "Anyone else want some?"
Kat wrinkled her nose. "No mushrooms for me. I like cheese, peppers, onions, sausage, and a little Tabasco on the side or salsa, that's good too. I want to try a bite of a monkey omelet, though. They sound interesting. I don't want a whole one, but I will try it." Katrina would try just about any food once, except for fungi. If it wasn't a plant or an animal, it wasn't edible in her book.
Katrina followed Iris' example and took out a knife and cutting board. Then she washed off one of the green peppers and started cutting it into little pieces. She watched Hunter carefully, to see how he would go about making the eggs and other things into finished omelets. She liked cooking, but had never done omelets before. Maybe she would learn a few things by watching, like she did sometimes when Hans was in the kitchen back at home.
Hunter offered Paragon a smile when she mentioned the flowers. He could guess that she had spoken to her foster parents on the phone and he had them to thank for her improved mood. Taking two eggs Hunter deftly cracked and emptied them into a glass bowl with one hand while he sought milk with the other. Adding a splash of milk to the eggs he began to gently beat them as he placed a pan on the stove and turned it on.
Once the eggs were mixed he put a knob of butter in the pan and melted it around the pan, ensuring an even coverage. As the butter began to foam he added the eggs, spreading them evenly about the pan taking a spatula he began to lift the omelette edges as the egg set, allowing the uncooked egg to run underneath. Once the underside was brown but the top still a little moist he grabbed Katrina’s now chopped ingredients and sprinkled them on top of the omelette. Carefully folding the omelette in half he then loosened it with the spatula and slid it onto a plate that Nigel had got out.
Passing the plate to Katrina he began preparing another omelette. “I’ll do mine and Katie’s,” he said to Nigel, “but as for your “monkey omelette, you’re on your own making that. Like Jenny however I’m gonna try a piece, see what all the fuss is about.”
Posted by Iris/Rayne on Jan 16, 2008 23:07:03 GMT -6
Mutant God
1,558
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:33:20 GMT -6
(OOC: Sorry for the delay!)
"Well, I guess that makes three tries then," Iris added herself to the list of experimenters. Though somehow eggs and peanut butter just sounded..... not meant to be together.....
She added her mushrooms to the leftovers from Katrina's omelet, but pushed away the sausage and Tabasco. Her stomach was already iffy; she didn't want to push things.
While she waited, and watched Nigel work at his creation, she turned to Katrina with a small smile.
"So Jenny, I haven't had much of a chance to get to know you yet, since things have been kind of hectic lately. You know, with everything that's been going on. Out there." She waved toward the window, indicating the Registration Law. "Yeah. Anyway..... how old are you again?"
Honestly, Iris was not good with conversations lately, starting them or otherwise....
Katrina watched carefully as Hunter made the omelets, making mental notes so she could try it in the future. It turned out pretty tasty too.
"Mmm," Katrina said through a mouthful of eggs, which translated into "You're a pretty good omelet maker, Hunter." Though he probably was not fluent mouth-full-ese, the intent of the message was still clear.
Then it was her faux-father's turn to cook.
"The trick to making a monkey omelet," Nigel winked at Katrina, "is mixing the peanut butter with the eggs before cooking them. If you add it later, in place of cheese, the flavor is too overwhelming." Katrina added that bit of info to her mental list of omelet making tips, in case she decided she actually liked monkey omelets.
>>>"So Jenny, I haven't had much of a chance to get to know you yet, since things have been kind of hectic lately. You know, with everything that's been going on. Out there." She waved toward the window. "Yeah. Anyway..... how old are you again?"
"I'm twelve, and I just started seventh grade." She would normally say she was in seventh grade, but at the moment, it looked like seventh grade was shaping up to a little different from normal school years.
Soon the monkey omelet itself was resting on a plate in front of the four experimenters. Katrina reached out her fork, cut off a small bite, and brought it to her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully. The flavors mixed in a way that could only be described as "unique."
IC: Hunter rolled his eyes at Nigel as he made the "monkey omelette". Finishing Paragons he sslipped it onto a plate and handed it to her before making his own. He was staying simple, just ham and mushroom. having made his he came over to Nigel's and tentitivly took a sample.
Like all his other senses Hunter's sense of taste was more acute than normal, and so he could clearly taste the wierd blend of flavours. "Interesting..." he said finally after swallowing, "However, I think I'll pass."
Posted by Iris/Rayne on Jan 19, 2008 22:05:23 GMT -6
Mutant God
1,558
0
Nov 20, 2008 23:33:20 GMT -6
"I'm twelve, and I just started seventh grade."
"Twelve? Huh, I would have sworn you were older." Iris smiled at Katrina. The girl definitely acted older.
She accepted her plate from Hunter with a quiet 'Thank you'. The smell reminded her that she really hadn't had a proper breakfast, and was famished. She attacked the meal with gusto, but didn't realize she was eating so fast until she hiccuped. A blush spread across her face, and she slowed down considerably.
Nigel set the plate with the 'monkey omelet in front of them. She eyed the creation warily. Katrina was the first brave one. Her expression was a bit hard to read, but she didn't look disgusted or sick.
Hunter ventured forth next, and Iris decided to follow suit. She took a small bite. Her face scrunched up as all of the flavors hit her tongue, drenching her tastebuds in mass confusion. She swallowed, then looked at Katrina, then Hunter.
"Interesting..." he said finally after swallowing. "However, I think I'll pass."
"For once, I completely agree with you..." She moved toward the cupboard for a glass for juice.
>>>"Twelve? Huh, I would have sworn you were older," Iris responded.
Katrina shrugged. People tended to think that she was either much older or much younger than her actual age. Perhaps it came from being small for her age but reasonably mature. Maturity seemed to be a relative scale. There were certain individuals who were much older than herself who acted less mature at times, but it all depended on the individual. Or the gender. Boys were always less mature and sometimes it seemed like they never grew up. Like the ones who played RP games, or ones who showed off by flipping ice cream scoops, or ones who left rubber dart guns lying around libraries.
Katrina followed up her shrug with, “I guess ages can be deceiving.” She grinned at Hunter, who was older than he looked since he had a grown up daughter. As for his claim to be centuries old, Katrina was still not completely convinced. Maybe she would believe he didn’t age if in 10 years he still didn’t look a day older than 23. That would be odd, if Hunter looked the same age as she did.
>>>"Interesting..." he said finally after swallowing. "However, I think I'll pass."
>>>"For once, I completely agree with you..."
So, they didn’t always agree. In Katrina’s experience that was a completely normal occurrence between children and parents, especially when children began to grow up and become independent.
“So… do you like horses?” she asked Iris. Katrina loved horses herself and was a little more horse crazy than the average middle school girl.
Hunter smiled as Katrina and Paragon got to know one another. He hoped that Katrina's fondness for him would rub off on Paragon, but some how felt that Paragon's bitterness would have more of an effect on Katrina.
Hunter ate his omelette and let the two speak uninterupted. As he ate he began planning their next moves, starting with getting into the Church of Humanity's core organisation.